FILE–SBP chair emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chair emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan didn’t mince words when he chimed in on Gilas Pilipinas’ loss to Cambodia in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Thursday.
“What a disgraceful game for Gilas,” he wrote on Twitter on the heels of the Philippines’ 79-68 defeat at the hands of a naturalized-laden Cambodian side.
“An ignominious defeat which will be etched deeply in infamy,” he went on.
The Philippines hardly looked like the “Redeem Team” it has been billed in the anticipated clash against the shots at Morodok Techo National Stadium.
What a disgraceful game for Gilas. An ignominious defeat which will be etched deeply in infamy. SBP – what happened?
— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) May 11, 2023
Gilas Pilipinas was saddled by horrendous shooting and could hardly keep up in the battle for the boards. Not helping was Justin Brownlee’s dehydration episode which kept him from his do-it-all play that would’ve prompted a fightback a lot earlier.
The loss was quite a setback for a campaign that hopes to reinstate the Philippines as a basketball power in the region.
The last time the Philippines lost in the biennial meet was during the you-or-me clash for the gold with Indonesia in the previous edition held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Before that, Gilas Pilipinas was untouched—and for 33 long years at that.
Pangilinan then reached for a question for his parting shot: “SBP – what happened?”
